1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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15,000 yards in length and 4,000–5,000 yards in
depth. As a diversion, 2d Mar Div feints landing
on SE shore of Okinawa. Air opposition is light but
kamikazes, destined to play a more important role
as the campaign progresses, cause some damage to
shipping. In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib Corps
area, 6th Mar Div, employing 22d Regt on N and
4th on S, takes Yontan airfield with ease. 1st Mar
Div lands to S and, with 7th Regt on N and 5th
on S, speeds E beyond Sobe in conjunction with
XXIV Corps to S. In XXIV Corps area, 7th Div
moves quickly eastward with 17th Inf on left and
32d on right, seizing Kadena airfield. 96th Div, to
S, moves forward to secure commanding ground S
and SE of its beaches, pushing to river beyond
Chatan on coast.
2 April
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: Hq Netherlands
District takes over zone of Br I Corps as
hq of that corps passes to Br Second Army command.
In Cdn First Army’s Cdn t Corps area, 49th Div
opens drive on Arnhem from Nijmegen bridgehead.
Cdn 2 Corps, which reverts to Cdn First
Army from attachment to Br Second Army, drives
N toward Doesburg and Zutphen.
In Br Second Army area, 30 Corps closes along
Twenthe Canal and armored elements continue toward
Lingen. In 12 Corps area, 7th Armd Div
enters Rheine, on Dortmund–Ems Canal, but enemy
is stubbornly defending airfields in the area.
8 Corps continues toward Osnabrueck.
In U.S. Ninth Army’s XIII Corps area, 17th A/B
Div, to which RCT 507 reverts, envelops and
enters Muenster, clearing all except heart of city.
5th Armd Div continues rapidly toward the Weser,
CCB columns advancing to Borgholzhausen region
and CCR reaching edge of Herford. In XIX
Corps area, 2d Armd Div continues battle for Teutoburger
Wald passes, hampered by terrain,
blown bridges, and roadblocks. CCA, assisted by
elements of CCR, cuts main road from the autobahn
to Bielefeld and gets elements to outskirts of
Oerlinghausen. CCB moves forward through Teutoburger
Wald along Detmold road to Hiddesen
area. RCT 377 reverts to 95th Div from attachment
to 2d Armd Div. RCT 119, 30th Div, is attached
to 2d Armd Div. 83d Div continues clearing
right flank of corps along the Lippe and maintains
and strengthens small bridgehead at Hamm.
30th Div, less RCT 119, starts toward Teutoburger
Wald to relieve 2d Armd Div units. 8th Armd Div
continues E against scattered resistance; CCB is
vigorously engaged at Neuhaus, NW of Paderborn.
In XVI Corps area, 75th Div reaches Dortmund–
Ems Canal from Datteln southward. 134th Inf,
35th Div, reaches Zweig Canal in Meckinghoven
[ 2 APRIL 1945 ]
area and is there relieved by elements of 75th Div;
137th and 320th Regts defend positions along
Rhein–Herne Canal.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s VII
Corps area, 3d Armd Div consolidates in Paderborn
area; elements enter Dahl without opposition.
1st Div organizes defensive positions from which
to block enemy movement from the W. 413th Inf,
104th Div, takes Rimbach; 415th decisively defeats
another enemy counterattack toward Medebach and
later drives W to E part of Kuestelberg. 9th Div
secures Zueschen and Winterberg on right, Berleberg
and Berghausen in center, and Girkhausen and
Neu Astenberg on left. Corps zone is narrowed as
78th and 8th Divs pass to control of XVIII Corps
(A/B) in place. XVIII Corps (A/B) takes over
sector bounded by Rhine, Ruhr, Lenne, and Sieg
Rivers. 78th Div defends S bank of the Sieg on left
flank. 8th Div continues fight for Siegen and Netphen
and heights N of the Sieg. In III Corps area,
CCA of 7th Armd Div is attached to VII Corps
and starts to Medebach area. In V Corps area, 9th
Armd Div maintains Diemel R bridgehead against
strong opposition on left, where CCB drives off
counterattacking tank-infantry forces. 2d Div continues
to mop up and takes responsibility for Eder
bridges in Affoldern area. 102d Cav Gp is given
mission of screening right flank of corps and maintaining
contact with Third Army.
In U.S. Third Army area, VIII Corps starts NE
to new zone in preparation for attack between XX
and XII Corps. In XX Corps area, 6th Armd Div
completes crossing the Fulda at Malsfeld and, with
CCA and CCB abreast, drives toward the Werra and
its tributary, the Wehre. Some elements reach the
Werra in Bad Sooden area and search for crossing
site while others secure bridgehead at Reichensachen.
80th Div pushes into outskirts of Kassel against determined
resistance and tank-infantry counterattacks.
65th Div attacks E across the Fulda on right flank
of corps with 260th and 259th Regts abreast, latter
on right, and makes rapid progress against scattered
resistance. 3d Cav Gp, ordered to defend left flank
of corps, is relieved along the Fulda by 6th Cav Gp,
night 2–3. In XII Corps area, CCB of 4th Armd Div
expands Creuzburg bridgehead to Neukirchen.
After ponton bridge is completed at Sprichra, CCA
gains heights commanding that town. Ground opposition
is light but German Air Force is active
against both bridge sites. 90th Div begins crossing
the Werra near Berka and Bengendorf. 11th Armd
Div thrusts quickly to the Werra N and S of Meiningen.
CCB establishes small bridgehead at Wasungen.
CCA gains bridgehead in Grimmenthal area;
elements take bridge at Vachdorf. Far to rear of
armor, 26th Div finishes clearing Fulda area. 2d
Cav Gp and 71st Div engage bypassed enemy N of